Automatic time clock



Feb. 12 1924.

H. G. LUNDGREN AUTOMATI C TIME CLOCK Filed May 8, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [v VEN TUE [1. EL UNDER-Ev ATTURNEY5 Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,820 H. G. LUNDGREN 7 AUTOMATIC TIME CLOCK Filed May 8, 1922 3 Sheets-Shea B wil INVENTU ATTURNE'YS Patented F eb. 12, 1924.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY G. LUNDGREN, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC ELEC- i TRICAL MACHINE CO., INC.,

AUTOMATIC Application filed ma 8,

To 'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY G. LUNDGREN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented a new and usein] Automatic Time Clock, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in automatic time clocks adapted to be used in large ofiices or manufacturing establishments for the purpose of indicat-.

ing on a time card the exact time when the person identified by the card entered the place of business or the manufacturing establishment and when he left the same, or for indicating on letters, telegrams, or any other papers of record the time of insertion. It is proposed in the present invention to describe and disclose a device of the character described that forms a "simple small unit, is electrically operated and actuated by the mere insertion of the time card, and that prints the time on the upper face of the card so that the latter is visible immediately upon withdrawal of the same from the device. It is further proposed to provide a device of the character described that uses a solenoid as driving element and is provided with s ecial featuresrelative to the switch which insure an even and firm stroke of the plum r when its work is performed. Other a vantages of my device will appear as the description proceeds.

With these objects in view I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a longitudinal vertical cross section through my device {Figure 2 a side elevation of a switch used in my device;

Figure 3 a wiring diagram; Figure 4 an end elevation of my device, and Figure 5 a vertical cross section through a datewhe'el arran ement along line 55 of "Figure 1. While I have shown only the preferredform of my device I. wishto have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My device comprises as its principal parts a printing block having means associated to rise with the plunger through 01 OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

TIME'CLOCK.

1922. Serial No. 559,806.

therewith for registering the month, the day of the month an the time of the day on the same and an electrically actuated printing plate forcing the card to be printed in contact with the printing block when the latter card is inserted between the block and plate far enough to close a switch controlling the circuit actuatin the printing plate.

T e printing plate (1) is mounted on astarting switch (6) adapted to be closed by the insertion of the card tobe rinted, a circuit maintaining switch (7) or maintaining the circuit closed irrespective of the fact whether the switch (6) remains closed or not, and a relay (8) for preventing sparking on the breaking of the contact in t e two switches and for thusprolonging their lives. The starting switch (6) comprises two contacts (9) and (11). These contacts are mounted 'on s rings (12) and (13) secured to the block 14) of insulated material. The contact (9) which is movable is disposed in the rear of the'printing plate (1) so that when a card is inserted into the machine so as to rest on the late (1) it will push the contact (9) towar the contact (11) and thereby close the starting circuit.

The closing of this circuit energizes the electro-magnet (4) and causes the plunger (5) to rise within the same. From the lower end of the plunger extends in lateral direction a shaft (16) which is allowed a slot (17 in the core (3), and this sha supports at its free end a vertical metallic strlp (18) having a longitudinal slot (19) engaging a pin (21) secured in a stationary plate (22). The strip ('18) terminates 111-21 PIOJBCtlOI} dyear, I the I suitable source of elect-ric energy.

(23) which is normally disposed between and underneath the two contact plates (24) and 26. Of the latter two contacts one is stationarily Supported on the plate (22) while the other forms part of a leaf spring (27), one end of which is secured to the plate (22). which latter is made of insulating material. The spring (27) has a tendency to force its contact toward the contact (24), but is prevented from doing so by a projection (28) extending from an inclined strip 29 mounted above the two contacts. When the plunger rises in the solenoid the metal strip 18) also rises and its projection 23) forces itself between the two contacts (24) and (26) so as to establish an electric connection between the same. During the further advance of the plunger the projection (23) comes in contact with the inclined plane (29) which forces the projection (23) out of its normal plane into a plane lying outside of the contact (26) so as to clear the two contacts (24) and (26) altogether whereby the circuit'is opened. The opening of the circuit causes the plunger to return and also causes the projection (.23) to return to its original position. In returning the projection (23) will, however, not retrace its path between the two contacts (24) and (26) but will return on the outside of the contact (26) due to the fact that the rapidity with which the operation is performed causes the projection (23) to be flung outwardly by the inclined plane (29) and to engage the outer face of the contact (26) before it can retrace its path between'the contacts, )Vhen the projection 23) leaves the two contacts (24) and (26) at or near the end of the upward stroke of the plunger the circuit is broken and this would cause a spark which in time would wear out the contacts. To prevent sparking at this point I pro vide the relay (8) comprising an electromagnet (31), a spring armature (32) and the contacts (33) and (34). The wiring diagram of Figure 3 including the relay may be explained as follows: The main wires (36) and (37) are connected with any )Vhen the starting switch (6) is closed current flows from the mainline 36) through the wire (38), the switch (6), the wire (39),

the spring (27), the wire (41), the coil of the electro-magnet (31), the wire (42) to the other main (37 This circuit energizes the electro-magnet of the relay, which attracts the armature (32) and closes the switch (33-34). By closing this switch a current is caused to'flow from the main line (36) through the wire (43), the coil (44) of the electro-niagnet, the wire (46), the contacts (33) and (34) and the wire (42) to the other main 37). i The energizing of the coil (44) causes the plunger to rise within the solenoid which simultaneously forces the projection (23) of the strip (19) between the two contacts (24) and (26) which latter switch now assumes the duties of the starting switch (6) in case the latter has been opened in the meantime. Otherwise the situation remains unchanged, that is, a portion of the current iiows from the main line (36) through the wire (38), the binding post (25), the plate (25), the contact 24, projecting from the plate, the projection (23), the contact (26), the wire (41), the ielav (8). the wire (42) and the main line (37), while a second portion flows from the main (36) to the main (37) through the parallel circuit including the wire (43), the coil (44) of the electro-magnet, the wire (46), the contacts (33) and (34) and the wire. (42). lVhen the plunger (5) arrives at or near the end of its travel the circuit is broken due to the fact that the projection (23) rises above the two contacts (24) and (26); but no spark is caused thereby since the current flowing through this switch is simply diverted into the parallel circuit including the coil (44) of the electro-magnet. This latter circuit will not be broken until an instant after the circuit containing the contacts (24) and (26) isopened since it takes a brief space of time for the coil of the relay to become demagnetized.

The printing block (51) which is mounted above the plate (1) is provided with a clock of any suitable make from the rear end of which extends a shaft (53) operatively connected with the shaft within the clock operating the minute hand. The rotary motion of this shaft is transmitted through suitable gears (54) and (56) to a shaft (57) carrying a pointer (53) adapted to move over the dial (59) disposed on the lower surface of the printing block. A sleeve (61) on the shaft (57) is rotated simultaneously and its rotary motion is transmitted through a pinion (61) to a gear wheel (62) on a shaft (63) and from the latter gear wheel through a pinion (64) and a gear wheel (66) to the sleeve (67 extending into the dial and provided with any suitable indicating mark, such as an arrow for instance.

The gearing reduces the speed of the sleeve 67 relative to the shaft (53) in the ratio of 1 to. 60 so that the arrow revolves at 1/60 the speed of the minute hand of the clock and may serve as an hour hand. The printing block is also provided with means for indicating the year, the month and the day of the month, illustrated in detail in Figure 5. A horizontal shaft (71) is supported in the frame constituting the printing block so that the lower surface of the various wheels mounted thereon is flush with the dial previously mentioned. While the operating wheels are enclosed in a case (72) it is desirable of course that the op-- erator be able to set the device for the correct date from the outside of the case. This is accomplished by the particular construction shown in Figures 4 and 5, from which it appears that the shaft (71) has a wheel (73) ri idly secured thereto inside the case (72) w ich latter wheel is provided with the numerals 0 to 9 on its circumference. The shaft is also provided with a head (74) outside the case which head is cylindrical in shape and is provided with the numerals 0 to 9 corresponding in their position with the numerals on the wheel (73). As viewed in Figure 5 these numerals are laced on the extreme left hand side of the ii so as to be visible throu h a pluralit of perforations (76) in the ead (77) o the sleeve 78) having a second wheel 79) mounte inside the case adjacent the w eel (73) with the numerals 0 to 9 marked thereon. The same numerals in the same order are marked on the head (77) on the ri ht hand side of the perforations (76) so t at the numerals appearing on the outside of the case correspond exactly to the numerals on the inside of the case not only within each unit but also in the relative position of the two units thus far described. A third wheel (81) indicating the year is mounted inside the case of the sleeve (78) and has to be set by hand at the end of each year. The wheel (82) having the months marked thereon is secured to the sleeve (83) and a corresponding head (84) on the outside of the case advises the operator of the position of the wheel inside the case. To cause the printing block to print the date and the time on a ticket inserted between the block and the plate (1), I cause a ta e (86) to pass underneath the block. e tape passes over the drums (87) and (88) over various rollers (89) secured in suitable places and is tightened by means of an idler (91), the shaft (92) of which is guided in the slot (93). It is automatically advanced with each stroke of the plunger by the device shown in Figure 2. A ratchet wheel (94) is supported on the shaft (96) and an arm (97) pivotally en aging the latter shaft also engages the sha. t (16) with its bifurcated free end so that the latter end is lifted every time the plunger in the electro-magnet rises. A awl (98) supported on the arm is thereby lifted from one tooth of the ratchet wheel to engage the next tooth, and to advance the ratchet one step when the lunger returns. A second pawl (99) ho ds the ratchet against movement in the opposite direction.

I claimi 1. A time clock ofthe character described comprising a clock having a downwardl facing stationary dial associated therewith for indicating-the time, an electro-magnet mounted underneath said dial having a plunger associated therewith for forcing an object to be stamped against thedial and a switch controlling the electro-magnet adapted to be closed by the object to be stamped when the latter is inserted between the plunger and the dial.

2. An automatic time clock of the character described comprising a clock having a downwardly facing stationary dial associated therewith for indicating the time, an electro-magnet mounted underneath the dial having a plunger associated therewith tending to rise when the electro-magnet is energized, a printing plate supported in confronting relation to the dial having a piston thereon extending into the electro-magnet adapted to be struck by the plunger so as to be forced into contact with the dial and a switch controlling the electro-magnet adapted to be closed by a card to be stamped when the latter is inserted between the plun er and the dial.

3. n a device of the character described a dial, an electro-magnet having a plunger therein adapted to force an object to be stamped against the dial, an electric circuit connected therewith, a starting switch in the circuit for energizing the electro-magnet and a current maintaining switch in parallel with the starting switch comprising two contacts mounted in close proximity to each other and a metallic plate associated with the plunger adapted to pass between the contacts so as to short circuit the same when the plunger rises.

4. In a device of the character described a dial, an electro-magnet having a plunger therein adapted to force an object to be stamped against the dial, an electric-circuit connected therewith, a starting switch in the circuit for energizing the electro-magnet and a current maintaining switch in parallel with the starting switch comprising two contacts. mounted in close proximity to each other and a metallic plate associated with the plunger adapted to pass between the contacts so as to short-circuit the same when the plunger rises, an electric relay being connected into the circuit to prevent sparkmg.

5. In a device of the character described a dial, an electro-magnet having a plunger therein adapted to force an object to be stamped against the dial, a starting switch for energizing the electro-magnet and a current-maintaining switch comprising two contacts mounted in closeproximity to each other, a metallic plate associated with the plunger adapted to pass between the contacts so as to short-circuit the sam'e when the plunger rises and an inclined plane mounted above the contacts and engaging the metallic. plate for deflecting the same so that the latter returns along the outside of the contacts when the plunger drops.

(5. An automatic stamping device of the character described comprising a (l0W11 wardly facing stationary dial, an electroinagnet mounted underneath the dial having a plunger associated therewith for forcing an object to be stamped against the dial and a switch controlling the electro-magnet adapted to be closed by the object to be 10 stamped when the latter is inserted between the plunger. and the dial.

HARRY G. LUNDGREN. 

